2008 Schedule First Look

The NFL Schedule is out, and we’re here with the Patriots schedule for you, as well as some of our initial thoughts on what the season looks like for New England.

Week One: September 7th – vs Kansas City Chiefs 1:00pm (CBS)
Nothing like Herm Edwards coming to town on Opening day to match strategy with Bill Belichick to excite the masses.

Week Two: September 14th – @ New York Jets 4:15pm (CBS)
Early season grudge match with Mangini and Company. Expect plenty of “Spygate” rehashing.

Week Three: September 21st – vs Miami Dolphins 1:00pm (CBS)
Bill Parcells brings his new-look Dolphins into town for an early season test against the Patriots.

Week Four: September 28th – BYE WEEK
Pretty early bye week, especially considering that there are still four West coast road trips ahead. You’d think the league would schedule one in between there, rather than just prior.

Week Five: October 5th – @ San Francisco 49ers 4:15pm (CBS)
First of the four trips to the Pacific that the Patriots will take this season. 49ers fans might get to see the player they could’ve had with the seventh overall pick.

Week Six: October 12th @ San Diego Chargers 8:15pm (Sunday Night NBC Game)
Rematch of the AFC Championship game. Back to back West coast games. Will the Patriots just stay out West all week?

Week Eight: October 26th vs St Louis Rams 1:00pm (FOX)
Back to back home games give the Patriots a chance to heal a little.

Week Nine: November 2nd @ Indianapolis Colts 8:15pm (Sunday Night NBC Game)
A logical choice to kick off sweeps month for the networks. The Colts will also be coming off a prime time game with the Titans the week before.

Week Ten: November 9th vs Buffalo Bills 1:00pm
Another 1:00pm home game as requested by the team.

Week Twelve: November 23 @ Miami Dolphins 1:00pm (CBS)
Second game of the year with Parcell’s Dolphins.

Week Thirteen: November 30 vs Pittsburgh Steelers 4:15pm (CBS)
Looks like a late home game for the CBS network.

Week Fourteen: December 7 @ Seattle Seahawks 8:15pm (Sunday Night NBC Game)
Another trip out West for a prime time game.

Week Fifteen: December 12 @ Oakland Raiders 4:15pm (CBS)
Once again, do the Patriots stay out West somewhere in between the Seahawks game and this one?

Week Sixteen: December 21 vs Arizona Cardinals 1:00pm (FOX)
Back home for another 1:00pm game.

Week Seventeen: December 28 @ Buffalo Bills 1:00pm (CBS)
Closing out the schedule at Buffalo, the Bill showed improvement last year, could they be vying for a playoff spot here?

——————–Overall Thoughts:

The Patriots got their wish of more 1:00pm starts at home, with five on the initial schedule.

However, of the Patriots sixteen games, only seven are at a traditional 1:00pm start. The West coast games play a factor in that for sure. Nine out of the Patriots sixteen games will be on at 4:00pm or later.

You would think that the Pittsburgh game on 11/30 is a potential flex schedule game, but one source says that CBS will hold onto that slot.

Five prime time games either on Sunday Night (NBC) Monday Night (ESPN) or Thursday Night (NFLN).

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Comments

Despite all the gnashing of teeth nationally that the Pats have an easy schedule, the times/locations of the games appears pretty difficult. Just as its hard for a west coast team to come east and play at 1pm EST. Its difficult to have to go west 4 times and play at a later time than you are used to.

Although the Krafts have “cleaned up Foxboro” you still get alot of out of control drunks at the late games, especially in the end zones which is where I sit. If I had my say I’d have all the late games away.

For anyone thinking about going to a Patriots road game, join the Patriots Tailgate Club where we are keeping all Patriots fans in the loop about travel, tickets and of course the tailgate party before every game.